A Sankey diagram, also known as a force-directed diagram or a directed flow diagram, is a graph-based visualization technique widely used in the social sciences and engineering to represent flow data in a three-dimensional way. It is commonly employed in the study of materials flow, the study of energy transfer, and in the analysis of economic flows. In this article, we will discuss an interactive guide to Sankey charts: streamlining knowledge and understanding with visual maps.
What is a Sankey Chart?
A Sankey diagram is an efficient and compact data visualization method that is used to represent directed flow data. It is a graph-based visualization technique that depicts the flow of material, energy, or information from a source to a sink. The diagram uses a rectangular grid to represent each flow, and the arrowheads indicate the flow direction. Sankey charts are also known as force-directed diagrams, directed flow diagrams, and directed network diagrams.
How to Create a Sankey Chart?
Creating a Sankey chart is a two-step process. The first step is to organize your data and decide on the size of the grid and the flow directions. The next step is to select the color scheme for the flow arrows and to decide on the color scale for the flow values.
There are many tools available online that can help you create a Sankey chart, including the popular D3 and Tableau software. Using these tools, you can easily incorporate your data into the Sankey chart and customize the layout and appearance to suit your needs.
Applications of Sankey Charts
The main use of Sankey diagrams is to represent material flows, energy flows, or information flows. These diagrams are useful for studying complex systems and are commonly used in the field of materials science, where they are used to model the flow of goods through manufacturing processes. They are also used in the field of engineering, where they are used to model energy transfer and transportation.
Sankey diagrams are also used in the study of economics, where they are used to model the movement of goods, services, and capital from one place to another. The diagrams can also be used in the field of medicine, where they are used to model the flow of drugs, medicine, and other resources through a clinical setting.
Conclusions
In summary, Sankey charts are a powerful visualization tool for representing the flow of material, energy, or information in a three-dimensional way. They can be created using a variety of software tools and are widely used in the social sciences, engineering, and economics. By understanding how to create and use Sankey charts, you can streamline knowledge and understanding in your field of study.
SankeyMaster
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